Bag with adjustable carrying strap

ABSTRACT

An adjustable length strap for a bag has strap ends received and concealed within an interior space for an aesthetic appearance in which dangling strap ends, buckles and bulky, folded strap portions are avoided.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention generally relates to a bag for carrying various articles and, more particularly, to an adjustable length strap by which the bag is carried.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Shoulder-worn bags for carrying various articles are well known, and each bag typically includes at least one shoulder strap attached by clips, buckles and like fasteners to opposite ends of the bag. People who carry such bags come in all sizes, and it is also known to adjust the length of the shoulder strap to accommodate the size of each person. The shoulder strap is typically adjusted by folding it over onto itself, and using a buckle to hold the folded strap portions together. Another adjustment technique involves fastening a selected region on the strap to the bag, and allowing an end of the strap to dangle freely. Although these are generally satisfactory expedients, experience has shown that it is unaesthetic, especially for fashion bags, to have dangling strap ends, buckles and bulky, folded strap portions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0005] One object of this invention is to provide a strap for a bag that is easy to adjust and aesthetic in appearance.

[0006] Another object of this invention is to eliminate the need for dangling strap ends, buckles and bulky, folded strap portions to adjust a strap for a bag.

FEATURES OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In keeping with these objects, and others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of this invention resides, briefly stated, in a carrying bag comprising an outer container having a pair of container wall portions spaced apart of each other, and an inner liner within the container and bounding an interior space therewith. Preferably, the outer container is constituted of a flexible, non-rigid material, such as leather, vinyl, fabric and like materials commonly used in the construction of bags or purses. The inner liner is also preferably made of a flexible, non-rigid material, such as a fabric of natural or synthetic materials.

[0008] In accordance with this invention, a pair of first fasteners is respectively mounted on the container wall portions. Preferably, each first fastener is a projection or prong having an enlarged head. A succession of second fasteners, such as holes, is spaced longitudinally along a strap that extends longitudinally between opposite strap ends. Each hole is sized to receive a respective prong.

[0009] The strap is adjustable in length by selection of two of the holes due to their longitudinal spacing apart from each other. These two selected holes are the ones that receive the prongs on the bag. The spacing between the two selected holes represents the desired length for the strap to carry the bag. The strap ends are received and concealed in the interior space between the liner and the container.

[0010] Thus, the receipt of the strap ends in the interior space avoids the problem of dangling strap ends. There are no folded-over or bulky strap portions, or buckles, thereby imparting a high aesthetic appearance to the bag.

[0011] The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bag carried by a strap in accordance with this invention;

[0013]FIG. 2 is a broken-away, enlarged, sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 3 is a broken-away, enlarged, sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 4 is a perspective view analogous to FIG. 1, but showing the strap adjusted to be longer in length in accordance with this invention; and

[0016]FIG. 5 is a broken-away, enlarged, sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] Reference numeral 10 generally identifies a bag or purse carried by a strap 12 having a length adjustable between a shorter length depicted in FIG. 1 and a longer length depicted in FIG. 4.

[0018] The bag 10 includes an outer shell or container 14, and an inner liner 16 located within the container 14 and bounding an interior space 18 therewith. The container 14 may have any shape and, as shown, the shape of the container 14 is a parallelepiped having spaced-apart end walls 20, 22; spaced-apart side walls 24, 26; a bottom wall 28; and a top wall 30 openable and closeable by a zipper 32. The container walls may be constructed of leather, vinyl, fabric, or any other flexible, non-rigid material commonly used in the art of making bags. The container walls are conventionally sewn or fused together.

[0019] The liner 16 is preferably also made of flexible, non-rigid material such as cloth or plastic material and covers the interior surfaces of the end, side and bottom walls of the container. The liner 16 is preferably sewn in place.

[0020] As best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, a pair of first fasteners or prongs 34, 36 is mounted on wall portions of the container that are spaced apart of each other. The prongs 34, 36 extend outwardly of the end walls 20, 22 and have enlarged heads 38, 40.

[0021] The strap 12 extends longitudinally between opposite strap ends 42, 44 and has a succession of second fasteners or holes 46, 48, 50, 52 spaced longitudinally along the strap. The holes 46, 48 are spaced apart by a shorter distance as compared to the spacing between the holes 50, 52. If a user wishes to carry the bag with a shorter strap, as shown in FIG. 1, then the holes 46, 48 are selected to mate with the prongs 34, 36. Otherwise, if the user wishes to use the longer strap of FIG. 4, then the holes 50, 52 are selected to mate with the prongs 34, 36.

[0022] Each head 38, 40 is slightly larger in cross-section than a respective hole so that the head must be forced through the respective hole. The material surrounding each hole yields to permit entry of the head. The strap is made of yieldable material such as leather, vinyl and the like. Once through, the hole freely receives the prong. The head insures that the strap will stay in place on the prong unless forcibly pulled in the opposite direction through the hole to make another adjustment.

[0023] The aforementioned strap ends 42, 44 are not left dangling from the prongs. Instead, the strap ends 42, 44 are inserted into openings 54 (see FIG. 3) into the interior space 18 between the container and the liner. FIG. 2 depicts how the longer strap ends 42, 44 extend along the end walls 20, 22 and along the bottom wall 28. FIG. 5 depicts how the shorter strap ends 42, 44 extend only partially along the end walls 20, 22. In either case, the strap ends are received in the interior space and concealed from view.

[0024] In alternate embodiments, more than two pairs of holes can be provided along the strap for greater adjustment versatility.

[0025] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, also may find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above.

[0026] While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a bag with adjustable carrying strap, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. For example, the first and second fasteners can be replaced by hook and loop fasteners, or by magnetic fasteners.

[0027] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims. 

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.
 1. A carrying bag, comprising: a) an outer container having a pair of wall portions spaced apart of each other; b) an inner liner within the container and bounding an interior space therewith; c) a pair of first fasteners respectively mounted on the wall portions; and d) an adjustable length strap extending longitudinally between opposite strap ends, and having a succession of second fasteners spaced longitudinally along the strap, two of the second fasteners being selected due to their spacing apart from each other and being fastened to the first fasteners to obtain a desired length for the strap to carry the bag, the strap ends being receivable and concealed in the interior space.
 2. The bag of claim 1, wherein the first fasteners are projections extending in opposite directions outwardly of the container, and wherein the second fasteners are holes extending through the strap, the selected two holes being operative to receive the projections.
 3. The bag of claim 2, wherein each projection has an enlarged head.
 4. The bag of claim 1, wherein the interior space has a pair of openings adjacent the wall portions, and wherein the strap ends are slidably insertable into the openings.
 5. The bag of claim 1, wherein the interior space extends along the wall portions, and along a bottom of the container.
 6. The bag of claim 1, wherein the container and the liner are constituted of non-rigid materials.
 7. The bag of claim 1, wherein the container has a generally parallelepiped shape and has end walls, and wherein the first fasteners are mounted on the end walls. 